Casement Park in line for major overhaul - 40,000 all seater Stadium.

[Sportacus]

The elephant in the room is a white one.

[Rossfan]

Get it built!!

[five points]

Just what we need - a big expensive GAA stadium in a non-GAA city in a corner of the country that might be used an odd time for an Ulster final but which otherwise will never ever see a big qualifer or Super 8 game. Those who have presided over this fiasco should be drummed out of the GAA.

[johnnycool]

Just what we need - a big expensive GAA stadium in a non-GAA city in a corner of the country that might be used an odd time for an Ulster final but which otherwise will never ever see a big qualifer or Super 8 game. Those who have presided over this fiasco should be drummed out of the GAA.

What? There's probably the guts of 20 clubs within a five mile radius of the Casement park site.

There are lots of issues with the Stadium, some which you raise are very valid but that isn't one of them.

[five points]

Just what we need - a big expensive GAA stadium in a non-GAA city in a corner of the country that might be used an odd time for an Ulster final but which otherwise will never ever see a big qualifer or Super 8 game. Those who have presided over this fiasco should be drummed out of the GAA.

What? There's probably the guts of 20 clubs within a five mile radius of the Casement park site.

There are lots of issues with the Stadium, some which you raise are very valid but that isn't one of them.

OK, what is Antrim's average home intercounty championship attendance for the past 20 years? And bear in mind that the current trend is for attendances to fall.

[armaghniac]

[five points]

They're still using the original artwork showing 38,000 at an Ulster Hurling Final, an event so compelling that it was last played in 2017.

[johnnycool]

Just what we need - a big expensive GAA stadium in a non-GAA city in a corner of the country that might be used an odd time for an Ulster final but which otherwise will never ever see a big qualifer or Super 8 game. Those who have presided over this fiasco should be drummed out of the GAA.

What? There's probably the guts of 20 clubs within a five mile radius of the Casement park site.

There are lots of issues with the Stadium, some which you raise are very valid but that isn't one of them.

OK, what is Antrim's average home intercounty championship attendance for the past 20 years? And bear in mind that the current trend is for attendances to fall.

That's a different question.

This is an Ulster GAA stadium, not Antrims so expect to see it being used for Ulster Semi-finals and finals if Ulster GAA have invested in it.

[five points]

Just what we need - a big expensive GAA stadium in a non-GAA city in a corner of the country that might be used an odd time for an Ulster final but which otherwise will never ever see a big qualifer or Super 8 game. Those who have presided over this fiasco should be drummed out of the GAA.

What? There's probably the guts of 20 clubs within a five mile radius of the Casement park site.

There are lots of issues with the Stadium, some which you raise are very valid but that isn't one of them.

OK, what is Antrim's average home intercounty championship attendance for the past 20 years? And bear in mind that the current trend is for attendances to fall.

That's a different question.

This is an Ulster GAA stadium, not Antrims so expect to see it being used for Ulster Semi-finals and finals if Ulster GAA have invested in it.

Changing the goalposts already.

[Evil Genius]

What gets my goat about this is the 15 odd years of stagnation that Antrim GAA have suffered whilst losing kids to less better sports.

How has the unavailability of Casement led to youngsters migrating to other sports, especially those which are "less better"?

If there really is a safety issue re: evacuation then that should have been something that the authorities flagged at the outset. 

Er, the authorities couldn't flag safety issues until the GAA presented their plans. When the GAA did so, the authorities pointed out that the plans weren't safe, as is their statutory duty btw.
The GAA might have foreseen that this might be the case, since they pay architects, engineers and planning consultants for advice on same. And even if they didn't, they must have known there was a problem when they submitted revised plans - which also failed to prove acceptable.

Rugby and football/soccer were fast-tracked above and beyond.

"Fast-tracked" by whom? Ravenhill proceeded pretty much on schedule, primarily because the IRFU had its act together and the project was relatively modest. And Windsor actually took longer than envisaged, though that was partly due to work on the adjacent Council Leisure Centre undermining the Kop Stand. (It hadn't originally been intended to replace the Kop).
But no-one did either organisation any special favours.

The GAA would have a more than arguable case that the statutory advice was less than competent.

Says who?

Antrim GAA should lodge a claim.

Against whom?

The simple fact is, the site is not suitable for a modern 40k capacity sports stadium, due to restricted access/egress, meaning that spectator safety could not be guaranteed in the event of an emergency evacuation?

Or would you be happy to allow your children to attend a game in a venue which experts consider to be unsafe?

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

The current site was not well chosen by whoever chose it.

This should have been in Mid Ulster(makes it on average 1-1.5 hours travel at worst case for Ulster Counties). This could be Toome if it had to be an Antrim

[johnnycool]

Just what we need - a big expensive GAA stadium in a non-GAA city in a corner of the country that might be used an odd time for an Ulster final but which otherwise will never ever see a big qualifer or Super 8 game. Those who have presided over this fiasco should be drummed out of the GAA.

What? There's probably the guts of 20 clubs within a five mile radius of the Casement park site.

There are lots of issues with the Stadium, some which you raise are very valid but that isn't one of them.

OK, what is Antrim's average home intercounty championship attendance for the past 20 years? And bear in mind that the current trend is for attendances to fall.

That's a different question.

This is an Ulster GAA stadium, not Antrims so expect to see it being used for Ulster Semi-finals and finals if Ulster GAA have invested in it.

Changing the goalposts already.

Who?

You made a statement about Belfast being a non GAA city and I queried you on that referencing the number of clubs in the locality, then you mention Antrim GAA's attendance at games. I then point out this stadium isn't Antrims...

Lets not kid ourselves, this is a multi-functional stadium to be used for much more than GAA in the heart of the second largest city on the Island.

[five points]

You made a statement about Belfast being a non GAA city and I queried you on that referencing the number of clubs in the locality, then you mention Antrim GAA's attendance at games. I then point out this stadium isn't Antrims...

Lets not kid ourselves, this is a multi-functional stadium to be used for much more than GAA in the heart of the second largest city on the Island.

Cork city has a lot of GAA clubs and its stadium is a white elephant. Before it was built, they were going to do the divil and all with it.

[armaghniac]

Er, the authorities couldn't flag safety issues until the GAA presented their plans. When the GAA did so, the authorities pointed out that the plans weren't safe, as is their statutory duty btw.
The GAA might have foreseen that this might be the case, since they pay architects, engineers and planning consultants for advice on same. And even if they didn't, they must have known there was a problem when they submitted revised plans - which also failed to prove acceptable.

In a civilised place, the public authorities would have worked with someone planning a civic amenity to ensure that there was clear visibility of potential good solutions,  rather than simply adopting "Ulster says no".  The attitude here is, we can't stop you, but we sure as hell aren't going to help you.

[johnnycool]

You made a statement about Belfast being a non GAA city and I queried you on that referencing the number of clubs in the locality, then you mention Antrim GAA's attendance at games. I then point out this stadium isn't Antrims...

Lets not kid ourselves, this is a multi-functional stadium to be used for much more than GAA in the heart of the second largest city on the Island.

Cork city has a lot of GAA clubs and its stadium is a white elephant. Before it was built, they were going to do the divil and all with it.

So we've moved to Cork now.

Those goalposts are whizzing about at an awful rate of knots.